Category: News

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Wandering Toward God: Scripture and Poetry Readings

March 16, 23, and 30 at 7 PM on Zoom

The Bible includes many stories about people wandering: Abraham and Sarah, the liberated Israelites, the exiled community, Jesus in the wilderness, and more. This adult forum will help us explore our Lenten theme of wandering toward God by drawing us into these stories and reading poetry that explores similar themes. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own stories of wandering in life.

Join Pastor Coffey for this Lenten conversation over 3 Wednesday evenings on Zoom. The link for the FELC Community Zoom meeting is always at the end of our weekly emails. You can subscribe to our weekly emails on our website.

The slides from the class are available here.

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March: Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as Women’s History Week. For more information, discussions, and events, visit: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/womens-history-month

Let us pray. Thank you for all the cherished women in our lives and in our histories: friends, siblings, mothers, and neighbors. God, may women across the globe continue to be empowered, and may we gladly receive the leadership and witness they offer, knowing your love for all. Amen.

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Prayers and Action for Ukraine

Let us pray and move our prayers into action

The community of First English Lutheran Church will keep the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia in our prayers and light a candle (with the colors of Ukraine) in worship until there is peace. 

On February 24, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, launching land, sea and air attacks. Russia has launched air strikes across the country, including on the capital of Kyiv and other major cities. There are major humanitarian concerns for both internally displaced people and refugees. Many of these Ukrainians fleeing their homes need shelter and such basic necessities as food, water, and toiletries. Care for people also includes pastoral and psychological support to address the trauma they’ve endured.

Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying our companions in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. As you are moved, please give, and directly, to Lutheran Disaster Response at: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)

Let us pray. Almighty God, kindle in every heart the true love of peace, a peace without oppression and war. Guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in justice your love may increase until the earth is filled with your peace. Amen.

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Transfiguration Sunday: February 27

Transfiguration of Our Lord: February 27

Transfiguration Sunday is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close this Sunday and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2. 

We reflect on the scripture story from Luke 9:28-36. Witnesses to the glory of God in the face of Jesus reflect that glory in the world. It was true for Moses. It was doubtless true for Peter, James, and John. We pray that it will be true of all of us who experience God’s glory and who are being “transformed into the same image” by God’s Spirit.

Throughout the liturgy we offer our “alleluia” which expresses resurrection in a variety of ways. Hallelujah is from a Hebrew word meaning “God be praised.” This word of joy is omitted during the season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.

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Lent 2022: Wandering Toward God

Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 2, and continues for five weeks and Holy Week. We are inviting everyone to contemplate the theme Wandering Toward God. We often use the theme of a journey to describe life, but that journey is not usually a clear and straight road. Like the Israelites we wander the wilderness. Sometimes we wander away from God, and sometimes we move closer to God. The heart of the Lenten season is to contemplate how God moves close to us and wanders with us in Christ no matter which way we wander.

One way to focus on how we wander toward God is through engaging with one of the core Lenten spiritual practices: giving to the poor. ELCA World hunger has created a 40 Days of Giving calendar, and a Lent study booklet called A Way in the Wilderness. These printed resources are available at the church for you to use at home throughout the Lenten season.

You can learn more about ELCA World Hunger ministries here: https://www.elca.org/hunger

If you are moved to give financially, please donate directly to the ELCA World Hunger. Information is found at the link above.

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February 2022 Council Meeting Highlights

The church council met on Zoom this month. Here are a few key highlights:

  • We discovered that some donations made in December of 2021 had not transferred over to the 2021 financial statement. This resulted in an additional $2,050 in surplus for 2021. Our budget is structured so that all surplus goes toward benevolence and toward rebuilding our savings. The council approved distributing the $2,050 using the same formula as our benevolence: 50% for Synod/ELCA, 25% split between Micah 6 and Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, and 25% for rebuilding savings. These funds will be distributed this month and are in addition to any benevolence given based on 2022 income.
  • The council appointed Andy Maclaren as our 2nd synod assembly voting member.
  • Allen Jensen was re-elected council president.
  • Nancy Neuse was elected vice-president.
  • Andrew Koepp was elected secretary.
  • Gwen Flory was previously elected as financial secretary for 2022.
  • Erin McCracken was elected as interim treasurer until a new treasurer can be found. Erin has served us faithfully and will take a break from this form of service. We are grateful for Erin’s excellent work as treasurer.
  • Pastor Coffey shared worship participation data for January: average live participation (in-person and livestream): 61. average total participation (in-person and livestream 3 day unique viewers): 86
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2022 Annual Meeting Summary

The annual meeting of the congregation was held on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 12:30 PM on Zoom. Thirty-five voting members were in attendance, meeting the quorum requirement of 19.

Highlights of the presentations and actions taken include:

  • We reviewed Pastor Coffey’s annual report, which included a video slideshow of FELC in 2021. The video is available now on our website and YouTube channel.
  • We reviewed the Outreach Vision 2020 strategic plan to restart our plans after pandemic put them on hold.
  • We adopted the 2022 budget as presented by the church council.
  • We elected five new church council members: JD Aguirre, Derek Bridges (filling a vacant position for 2 years), Andrew Koepp, Nancy Neuse, and Elizabeth Zimmermann.
  • We elected one voting member of the 2022 Southwestern Texas Synod assembly: Michelle Lingo.

All documents relating to the annual meeting are available here.

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Carl Jung and Christian Spirituality

February Adult Forum

Carl Jung was the pioneer of analytical psychology. He diverged from some of Freud’s assumptions about the human psyche and focused on archetypes, religion, aspirations, the unconscious, dreams, the shadow self, and seeking wholeness. Much of Jung’s work has been influential in Christian spirituality in the past century.

Pastor Coffey presented on numerous aspects of analytical psychology and Christian spirituality. Participants explored how Jung’s work may be helpful in understanding one’s own faith, experience, and history.

The PDF of the presentation is here.